Family Fun Day At Winton Raceway

[Cowboy1600]

http://s11.photobucket.com/albums/a178/stocky021/winton/

There's mine guys. Not the best shots. Gotta get a decent camera one day.

Thanks for those pics! Gave a good idea of what the day was like. So many different types of vehicles. I like the pic of me next to the Formula Ford waiting to get on track

I'm still beaming. Totally stuffed, but beaming

The day went perfectly. Marty and I met up with Adam, Manni, Jason, and James at the BP servo. Left at 6:10am. Marty jumped in lead and set his cruise control to 109 to avoid any nasty surprises (damn DoT cameras). We stopped about 25 mins out of Benella cause my back teeth were floating.

Hit Benalla Maccas in a dense fog. Cold and crisp, perfect for turbo cars! After a quick feed and fuel we shot off towards Winton, arriving some 15 mins later. None of us had a clue what to do so we drifted in (as in moved slowly, not sideways), and managed to find the queue for scruitneering.

Happily, there were no scrutineering issues so with much joy and a touch of anticipation, we rolled our cars out with a pretty new sticker telling the world that we were track ready.

We headed to the pit area and emptied any and everything out of our cars before lining up for our first track session. Before we knew it we were being waved thru the entrance onto the the track. That first little climb up onto the finish line was awesome. Down into turn 1 and it was stead as she goes.

After a few laps to get comfy, the pace started to up. It wasn't long before the yellows were on thanks to someone having a bit of an excursion off the track into the watery depths of despair. A tow was needed to get them out which meant yellows for a few laps.

Fast forward to the end of the session. Cars were hot, brakes smoking, tires balling and smiles all round. It was unanimous: track days rule.

Second session out was not quite the high of the first. Traffic was not unlike the Ring Road, during road works, with accidents, in the rain. To be honest it took a bit of shine off the day thus far. Fortunately the third session rectified the situation.

I was having a blast. Pretty clear track, putting away some cars which by rights should've spanked me, having a massive tussle with one of the little Aussie Cars. But then about 6 laps in my brake pedal started to get very, very long so I called it a session early.

And then the final of the day. The 4th session. Only 4 laps long (thanks to ambition overcoming ability on behalf of a very track specced Commodore [see pic of commodore on tow truck in Stocky's pics]) but by far the sweetest 4 laps of the day. I was second on track behind the Formula Ford with Marty right behind me. That meant 1 completely traffic free lap followed by 1 lap with little to no traffic followed by 1 with still not much traffic. To say it was on was an understatement. These are meant to be "80%" days but there was not much about those last 3 laps which were 80%. Unfortunately 3 laps at pace was all we got before the Commodore tagged the wall somewhere near turn one signaling an end to the 4th session. For me that was the day over as I had to get back to Melb, but Marty stayed on for a 5th, and extended session. According to him it was nearly as hectic as the 4th. Everyone was going for it.

It was a seriously fun day. In the lead up I was wondering if it was going to be worth all the effort. To that, I can absolutely say "Hell Yes!" If anyone is ever thinking about doing a day such as this, don't think, just go. You won't regret it. Also heartening was the lack of carnage. There were probably 6 offs that I saw during the day with one resulting in damage, one in a very near miss (see pic or WRX backwards coming out of the chicane - he very nearly tagged the marshall station as he rolled backwards off the track) and one S2000 who snapped something suspension relate and had to be carried back to the pits (but no panel damage so I'd say a component failure). The rest were simple spins.

I will defo go again.

[thangy]

Sounds fun.

Should be there next time.

[Wild Child]

I was there too, but only for last few sessions (had to party night b4). Was ok day, plenty of cars but also anoying yellow n red lights. Happy with restart of the last session. Managed to pull some clean laps n hit my PB speed in fast sweeper. As someone mentioned I also had problems with brake pads being too hot for disks so after 3 laps would start to wrap em so after 1st session i never used em as hard as they can go.

Ah yeh i drive blue N15 Pulsar SSS, n i think i was parked next to some SAU guys. To b honest lacking sleep n being late i didn't pay much attention, just went with the bussines

Hume Hwy needs resurfacing badly

[Stocky21]

I was there too, but only for last few sessions (had to party night b4). Was ok day, plenty of cars but also anoying yellow n red lights. Happy with restart of the last session. Managed to pull some clean laps n hit my PB speed in fast sweeper. As someone mentioned I also had problems with brake pads being too hot for disks so after 3 laps would start to wrap em so after 1st session i never used em as hard as they can go.

Ah yeh i drive blue N15 Pulsar SSS, n i think i was parked next to some SAU guys. To b honest lacking sleep n being late i didn't pay much attention, just went with the bussines

Hume Hwy needs resurfacing badly

Red lights did get annoying. One or two times, it seemed the driver only session got cut down to 10 minutes due to a red light, with the driver/passengers getting a full session right after.

[JEPPE]

I had three people spin out right in front of me causing yellow lights... seemed more chaos than last time, some of them were pretty close! But for $30 you know the track is going to be crammed so you have to expect the lights.

[KURAUN]

good reason not to go to a fun day imo

go to a proper driver dynamics day spend a bit more and have more experienced people on the track

[Cowboy1600]

good reason not to go to a fun day imo

go to a proper driver dynamics day spend a bit more and have more experienced people on the track

What's the good reason not to go to fun days?

[shepo]

well i reckon for $30 you cant go wrong.

however, its gonna work out to be a little more expensive for me.

im sure most of you wouldve seen the silver S2000 with the L/H/R wheel looking a bit wrong... well that was me. The result of the rear suspension collapsing on the exit of the long sweeper. ooooh yesterday was a loooooong day... but fun, these things happen...

now i have two broken cars

[Bozz]

What's the good reason not to go to fun days?

shhhh more track time for the rest of us

More photos people!

[KURAUN]

What's the good reason not to go to fun days?

inexperienced drivers (3 spun if front of Charlie).... thats why i suggested driver dynamics track days

but it costs a little more and dunno if people wuld go for it considering winton is only $30

[Cowboy1600]

well i reckon for $30 you cant go wrong.

however, its gonna work out to be a little more expensive for me.

im sure most of you wouldve seen the silver S2000 with the L/H/R wheel looking a bit wrong... well that was me. The result of the rear suspension collapsing on the exit of the long sweeper. ooooh yesterday was a loooooong day... but fun, these things happen...

now i have two broken cars

Sorry to hear. Was there much damage? It looked pretty straight forward, but I suppose its probably worse underneath. Glad to hear it wasn't due to a wall or some rubbins.

Hmmm...Bozz has a point.

It was a crappy day guys. I highly recommend staying away

[JEPPE]

2 of those people were very experienced actually... I confronted one of them as he overtook me on the outside half on the dirt on the back straight... then spun out infront of me. Experience doesn't mean you're safe.

Most of the people on the track are 'experienced' but you're not going to get away from accidents, that is the nature of the track. If you don't want to be around people pushing 100% (or more) or you cant afford to lose a car then don't drive on the track.

[Stocky21]

good reason not to go to a fun day imo

go to a proper driver dynamics day spend a bit more and have more experienced people on the track

I went to a driver dynamics drift day, and probably had the same level of fun, if not more at a fun day, for 1/6th the cost. Only downside was the distance to get there.

2 of those people were very experienced actually... I confronted one of them as he overtook me on the outside half on the dirt on the back straight... then spun out infront of me. Experience doesn't mean you're safe.

Most of the people on the track are 'experienced' but you're not going to get away from accidents, that is the nature of the track. If you don't want to be around people pushing 100% (or more) or you cant afford to lose a car then don't drive on the track.

If anything, the experienced people should maybe not go to it. Its make it uncomfortable for those of us with less experience. I had a much better time when I knew I didn't have to check to my left and right before taking a corner, but towards the end of the day, I had expensive track cars trying to cut around me on corners and it just ruins the fun for people that don't do track days often. Clogging up the track with race drivers on a family day just doesn't seem right.

Edited July 4, 2010 by Stocky21

[W0rp3D]

There is another one of these on in august that im thinking of going to, is there enough room on the track to get a few flat out laps in or atleast some good runs down the straights?

[Cowboy1600]

Do it, for sure. I was flat bikkies everywhere. Hitting just over 160 at the end of the long straight.

[Stocky21]

Do it, for sure. I was flat bikkies everywhere. Hitting just over 160 at the end of the long straight.

Yeah I got up to 160 there as well. Could've gone faster, but I didn't trust my brakes, and there was usually a build up of cars at the end of the straight. The shorter stretch parallel to that part you can also get a bit of speed.

[W0rp3D]

Do it, for sure. I was flat bikkies everywhere. Hitting just over 160 at the end of the long straight.

Nice, me and a mate that has a datsun fj20 are thinking of going, plus i want to do one before i sell the 33.

[shepo]

Sorry to hear. Was there much damage? It looked pretty straight forward, but I suppose its probably worse underneath. Glad to hear it wasn't due to a wall or some rubbins.

Hmmm...Bozz has a point.

It was a crappy day guys. I highly recommend staying away

from what i could see, it just looks like the lower arm broke clean in half, which resulted in the brake disk shattering and ruining the wheel and possibly the caliper. may need a hub assembly aswell, will nw more tomorrow when i can have a look at it at work.

as for the day, i thought it was great. but some of the slower cars need to keep an eye out in the mirrors. there were a couple of casses where i thought the car in front was going wide to let me through, but then they cut into the corner and nearly took the nose off...

[JEPPE]

I got up to 170, then stopped looking

[KURAUN]

2 of those people were very experienced actually... I confronted one of them as he overtook me on the outside half on the dirt on the back straight... then spun out infront of me. Experience doesn't mean you're safe.

Most of the people on the track are 'experienced' but you're not going to get away from accidents, that is the nature of the track. If you don't want to be around people pushing 100% (or more) or you cant afford to lose a car then don't drive on the track.

maybe more clarification, maybe a fun day for less and a fun day for more experienced drivers, or have them out on the track a different times

having everyone out on the track with mixed skills isnt the bes tof ideas imo

I went to a driver dynamics drift day, and probably had the same level of fun, if not more at a fun day, for 1/6th the cost. Only downside was the distance to get there.

If anything, the experienced people should maybe not go to it. Its make it uncomfortable for those of us with less experience. I had a much better time when I knew I didn't have to check to my left and right before taking a corner, but towards the end of the day, I had expensive track cars trying to cut around me on corners and it just ruins the fun for people that don't do track days often. Clogging up the track with race drivers on a family day just doesn't seem right.

never said a drift day, more a track day

only 20? or so spots and generally run at sandown